Urban Search And Rescue 9/11 Fact Sheet

• WTC/Pentagon US&R response largest in U.S. US&R history
  
  
• 20 task force (TF) teams worked on the WTC site / five teams at the Pentagon
  
  
• 25 of the 28 FEMA US&R teams deployed
  
  
• Eight teams activated on Sept. 11, 2001
  
  
• First teams on site at WTC: Pennsylvania TF1 and Massachusetts TF1, Sept. 11, 2001
  First teams on site at Pentagon: Virginia TF 1 and Maryland TF1, within hours of attack on Sept. 11, 2001
  
  
• Operations ran 27 days -- Sept. 11 through Oct. 7
  
  
• Most teams working at one time: Eight engaged on WTC site on Sept. 14, 15 and 16
  
  
• Last team on WTC site: California TF4, demobilized Oct. 7, traveled home Oct. 8
  
  
• There are four dogs per team - 20 teams equal 80 dogs
  
  
• 62 members per task force -- firefighters, medical, structural engineers, technicians, logistics, HazMat specialists and canine/handler teams
  
  
• TFs worked 31 team members per 12 hour shifts (dog teams worked 20-45 minute period during shift with equal rest time between working periods)
  
  
• TFs have four areas of specialization:
  
  
  • search, find trapped victims;
    
    
  • rescue, dig victims out;
    
    
  • technical, structural specialists who make rescues safe for the rescuers;
    
    
  • and medical, care for victims before and after a rescue.
    
    
• Among dog breeds represented: German shepherds; Australian shepherds; Belgian shepherds; yellow, black and chocolate labs; golden retrievers; Portuguese waterdogs; German shorthaired pointer; Belgian malinious; border collies; Belgian tervurne; Doberman pinscher; giant schnauzer; rat terrier
  
  
• No fatalities among team members or dogs; minor injuries only to task force members, few injuries such as minor lacerations, abrasions to dogs.
  
  
• US&R teams responding to WTC by state: California -TF1, TF3, TF4, TF6, TF7 and TF8; Florida-TF1 and TF2; Massachusetts-TF1; Utah-TF1; Colorado-TF1; Arizona-TF1; Washington-TF1, Indiana-TF1; Ohio-TF1; Pennsylvania-TF1; Texas, 1; Missouri, 1; Nebraska, 1; Nevada, 1. Teams responding to Pentagon by state: Maryland-TF1; New Mexico-TF1; Tennessee-TF1; Virginia-TF 1 and TF2;